Although the bear is an informal symbol Bieszczadysome residents of the region demand urgent intervention. For several weeks, reports have been regularly appearing about visiting these large animals in people inhabited by people. The spell of bitterness was poured by the situation from last week, when Three bears got to the private farm, and then after stacks of wood they got into the building where the goats were held. 22 of them caught, including 10 young people. Similar attacks have already occurred several times, and the “Kozi victims” counter has been pierced this year 30.
Bears are getting closer to people. Should they shoot them?
Hence the appeal of Adam Piątkowski, the head of the Solina commune, to “reduce the species”, or de facto bears. Slovaks have recently decided on such a solution, where the population of these predators is to be reduced by about 350 individuals. – We conduct apparent activities, We scare away, scare, catch, export, but This is fun in the cićubabka. We do not want to take responsibility, let someone, local government officials, help, because bears pose a great threat to the inhabitants of our commune and tourists, and not only with us, but in all of the Bieszczady Mountains – he said in an interview with the website News 24. He appealed to the Polish authorities to, due to the “excessive population increase”, to reduce the number of this – still – threatened species.
Only that among ecologists and scientists there is a fairly common consensus that this will not solve the problem at all. – Studies conducted throughout Europe, comparing various regions in which the bears occur, clearly show that there is no correlation between the population number and the scale of damage caused by these animals in a given area – notes biologist Robert Gatzka, a guardian in the Bieszczady Fauna Protection Park. – effectiveness of the prevention, prevention and compensation system functioning in a given country, and Not the number of bears just decide how often conflicts occur between man and wild animals – he adds.
For a good example of this correlation, he gives Norway, where, despite a very small number of bears, one of the highest percentage of damage is noted. In turn, in Croatia, where the bear's population is much higher, the number of damage reported is relatively low. – It clearly shows that Appropriate preventive measures are of key importancenot the size of the population as such – emphasizes Robert Gatzka.
It would also be a compromise of Poland on the international arena. Proof that we reject scientific knowledge and choose populist solutions that have no support in the data. Because we are dealing with this approach here. Experts are not listened to, does not take into account research, but makes decisions under the influence of emotions or pressure of public opinion
– a biologist thunders.
People themselves encourage bears. “It is simply irresponsible”
Bears are opportunists, if they have the opportunity to easily get food, they will use it. Therefore, the solution is not an open fight with a shotgun, but a proper discouragement of these predators from baking in areas inhabited by people. The solutions are simple: protect the apiaries with the help of electric shepherds, organize waste, do not leave food residues in the forests. You can also change the waste collection system – accelerate it, increase the frequency, because today it happens that residents must keep garbage at home for three weeks or longer.
– You have to do homework, because unfortunately the Bieszczady municipalities did not make up enough. You have to fix the waste management. This is a powerful problem that causes bears to start to associate a man with easy food and simply approach human headquarters.
I myself was a witness, like near Solina, in a foreign terrain, there were sacks with municipal waste on the side of the road, which were simply torn apart by bears
– Marek Józefiak from Greenpeace tells us.
Protect the garbage, appoint a group, mobilize hunters. There are many options
– Unfortunately, there are suggestions to go a few steps away, not solving absolutely basic issues and demand “final solutions”. It is simply irresponsible and this kind of conflicts are not ordered. You have to do everything, first to avoid these conflicts to prevent them. It is absolutely impossible to say that this is happening now – adds Józefiak. He indicates that in addition to waste management reform, hunters also have to change their behavior and stop ling with hunting animals with food, which becomes a comfortable prey for bears and gets used to the food obtained from humans.
Radosław Michalski, president of the Natural Heritage Foundation in an interview with Next.gazeta.pl proposes to establish a professional intervention group capable of resolving, and most importantly to prevent conflict situations involving large predators. – In the case of bears, it is very importantas the Tatra National Park does. This is where model solutions were developed. Unfortunately, in Podkarpackie it does not work today. In such a group, national parks, a veterinarian and bear researchers could operate. However, this would have to be supported by the state and should resemble something like a special service – he adds.
It indicates one more problem that can be solved very quickly. Hunting feeds should disappear from Ostoja Bieszczadzka. – Bears have been feeding on them for years, getting used to the presence of a man who throws out food there. Bears get used to the smell of people, they get more and more encouraged. And this leads to conflict situations, disturbs the winter rest of these animals, and what's more, the use of these feeding grounds is learned by small bears – he explains.
It is not true that there is a lack of food in the forest. There is food there, but to get it, you have to work hard. Meanwhile, access to dustbins, composters, hunting misery or photo paddock is simply easier. This is why bears are increasingly choosing such places – because they give quick and easy access to food. And they remember that. As a result, they begin to associate a man with food – and then the problems begin
– adds Robert Gatzka.
We push animals out of forests. Bieszczady may have a problem
The problem is also intensified by the fact that in the last 20 years the State Forests have entered the cutting of trees constituting the bears. – it can be safely called entering with shoes into their home. Leek They conducted clippings even at a distance of 30-40 meters from Gawr Bear, so it's hard to say that we give these animals peace in their own environment. Researchers have been calling for the enlargement of the Bieszczady National Park and the establishment of the Turnica National Park for years, which would create better conditions for the bear's life and protected their mother -in -law – notes Marek Józefiak from Greenpeace.
In addition to the moral side of this dispute, it is also worth looking at this economic. The Bieszczady Mountains will simply suffer. – Bears are a huge tourist magneta business card of the region. Just go to any stand with souvenirs from the Bieszczady Mountains to see that the bear is reigning there. Therefore, taking actions to eliminate bear would simply be a shot in the foot – believes Marek Józefiak. He calculates that they really cause bears, they are marginal. In recent years, it was PLN 100-150 thousand, which the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Rzeszów paid, for example, beekeepers and other people who suffered losses.
However, there is one more important issue, which is raised by the inhabitants of the Bieszczady Mountains – security. However, this is the least worried about this. Bears are animals anthropophobicas scientists describe them, which means that they are afraid of man by nature and do not hunt for him. – If it happens that the bear will attack a man and it will not be a case in which he has been surprised, but there will be a suspicion that we are dealing with the so -called A problem individual – even with the current protective regime there are procedures that allow intervention. In extreme cases, a specific bear is possible. It is important, however, not to treat such solutions as the first step, but as a last resort, there are indirect solutions along the way as Feeling as it is done in the Tatra Mountains – adds a member of Greenpeace.
The national good is at risk. Is it worth intervening?
Robert Gatzka points out that in the case of the Solina area We are dealing with a “handful of demoralized individuals” – In this first of all with one specific female and her young. Therefore, the problem concerns not the entire population, but of specific cases. And it should be focused on these individuals.
Bieszczady, or rather Polish bears, is a species whose population throughout the country has only about 150-200 individuals. It should be remembered that the bears have historically inhabited the whole country, but today we only have a small enclave in the south of Poland. And this enclave, a unique natural heritage, is now planning to destroy
– regrets the biologist.